Introduction
The aim of this game is to motivate the pupils to produce spontaneous utterances. The children get vocabulary cards with photographs of their animal and pictures as visual help. They have to answer questions about the animal represented on their card after they have lost the round of musical chairs. If they want to they can do the questioning in the following round. This game is applicable for a wide range of vocabulary fields.
Target group and Time
- Target group: 5th graders (the game can easily be adjusted for older or younger children, e.g. the pictures could be complemented with keywords or the possible answers could be extended).
- Time: The time depends on the number and language level of the participants, with five to six 5th graders one round took about 10 minutes (explanation included).
Learning objectives
- Vocabulary: Every pupil picks a card with a photo and the name of an animal and pictures of their home territory, favourite food and where they like to be. The pictures serve as support for the kids, but they can also come up with their own ideas.
- Grammar: The pupils have to form correct answers and questions. If necessary provide them with grammatical help.
Instructions to set up the activity
- Explaining the game: Let the pupils explain it in their own words.
Ask the children whether they are familiar with the game of musical chairs. They may not know the English name, but they will probably be acquainted with the game in their first language. If they are, let one of them explain the game in English (repeat and correct instructions if necessary). Afterwards explain that the pupils have to pick one of the animal cards and that they will be questioned about their animal if they lose the round of musical chairs. Make sure they understand the pictures and that these are only meant as support. Let one of the pupils repeat the rules in their own words and make sure they all know what to do.
- Set up: The pupils pick up the cards randomly.
The cards are shuffled and held out face down and every pupil chooses one card. It is important that they understand the pictures, so give them a moment to look at their cards and ask questions if necessary.
The game of musical chairs also needs to be set up. Instead of using chairs, one could also take pillows, papers or canvas bags which enables the set up and rearrangement to be done rapidly.
Letting it run
- Make sure that the pupils know they may ask for vocabulary, but should preferably produce their answers by themselves.
- If you use things to jump on (pillows, canvas bags, etc.) make sure that the children are not allowed to hop from one to the other, but have to move in a wide circle around these items.
- Possible variations: The pupils might guess which animal the one interviewed represents (make sure that the kids do not show their cards to the others). If the children are very quick with answering, they can be asked to act their animal out (movement, sounds).
